Aqua woke to birdsong and the soft rustle of someone moving around the room.
Kieran.
He was already dressed — jeans, a soft flannel shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows. His hair was still damp from a quick shower, and he was tying his boots with a focus that looked a lot like avoidance.
Aqua pushed herself upright. “You’re up early.”
He glanced over. The smile he gave her was warm… but tired. “Couldn’t sleep.”
She knew why.
She felt it too — that suspended heaviness in the air, the quiet awareness that their week was slipping through their fingers.
But Kieran didn’t mention it. Instead, he held up two fishing rods.
“Thought we could go down to the lake,” he said softly. “It’s going to be a beautiful day.”
Aqua’s heart squeezed. “Are you sure you don’t just want to stay in bed all
